In the context of this preseason game it is 'nothing', but the fact that 'lines mean nothing to Bylsma' is the thing that I'm upset about when applied to the regular season. I don't agree that he hates younger players but they certainly don't get as long a leash as they would in many other (admittedly worse) clubs.

The real issue for me is what I perceive as Bylsma failing to recognise where a player should, thoeretically, be most effective - or refusing to stick to convention because he believes more strongly in where he wants that player to fit.

IMO BB's ability to play top 6 exceeds the value he provides as a 3rd liner and the team should be solidifying his role, be it on Geno or Sid's wing.

If I had to take a guess, the reason why they're putting Bennett on the 2nd line LW for the game is because he's slotted to play LW with Malkin to start the year, so they're going to continue to have him play LW instead of swapping him to the RW for this game. Out of the 4 RWs playing tonight's game, Kobasew is the one they need to take the longest look at, so it's obvious why he's starting on the top line RW.

So what, in your opinion, is the point in having preseason games? In the grand scheme I think most would say the regular season doesn't even matter (for a playoff team). Perhaps the regular season is preparation for the playoffs and the preseason is preparation for the regular season?Trust me I'm not about to jump bridge over a preseason game, but with so many question marks over the bottom 6 I'd rather be experimenting down there whilst ensuring BB is fully primed for a full season playing top 6. Should he falter we know he can play the third and Jussi is insurance.

Crankshaft wrote:If I had to take a guess, the reason why they're putting Bennett on the 2nd line LW for the game is because he's slotted to play LW with Malkin to start the year, so they're going to continue to have him play LW instead of swapping him to the RW for this game. Out of the 4 RWs playing tonight's game, Kobasew is the one they need to take the longest look at, so it's obvious why he's starting on the top line RW.

Ok, that does make sense. I think I'm overly anxious at the prospect of having similar debates about the lineup come playoff time.

So what, in your opinion, is the point in having preseason games? In the grand scheme I think most would say the regular season doesn't even matter (for a playoff team). Perhaps the regular season is preparation for the playoffs and the preseason is preparation for the regular season?Trust me I'm not about to jump bridge over a preseason game, but with so many question marks over the bottom 6 I'd rather be experimenting down there whilst ensuring BB is fully primed for a full season playing top 6. Should he falter we know he can play the third and Jussi is insurance.

As another poster pointed out, you need to get a look at everyone in different roles. Bennett or Jokinen are going to be playing with Malkin during the season. If you want to get Jokonen time with Malkin, Beau Bennett is going to have to play 3rd line or be scratched. The preseason is the perfect time to make sure 1) Kobasew can play more than one role (remember, Kobasew is playing for a contract) and 2) Bennett can play and add something to the 3rd line that they didn't have before.

Really, you're making a mountain out of a mole hill. Just because the lines are this way in a preseason game where half the regular lineup isn't playing doesn't mean that's what they'll be in the regular season.

So what, in your opinion, is the point in having preseason games? In the grand scheme I think most would say the regular season doesn't even matter (for a playoff team). Perhaps the regular season is preparation for the playoffs and the preseason is preparation for the regular season?Trust me I'm not about to jump bridge over a preseason game, but with so many question marks over the bottom 6 I'd rather be experimenting down there whilst ensuring BB is fully primed for a full season playing top 6. Should he falter we know he can play the third and Jussi is insurance.

As another poster pointed out, you need to get a look at everyone in different roles. Bennett or Jokinen are going to be playing with Malkin during the season. If you want to get Jokonen time with Malkin, Beau Bennett is going to have to play 3rd line or be scratched. The preseason is the perfect time to make sure 1) Kobasew can play more than one role (remember, Kobasew is playing for a contract) and 2) Bennett can play and add something to the 3rd line that they didn't have before.

Really, you're making a mountain out of a mole hill. Just because the lines are this way in a preseason game where half the regular lineup isn't playing doesn't mean that's what they'll be in the regular season.

Crankshaft wrote:Beau Bennett is going to be on Malkin's LW to start the season. He's going to have his time.

Knowing Bylsma he'll probably share time with Jokinen.

But he'll still play a 3rd line role, IMO, if Jokinen plays/gets time with Geno. Which is probably why he's getting time with them now.

He's a special breed. He can score, but he also has the defensive awareness/ability to play a 3rd line role if needed.

I'd take full advantage of that if I'm the coach.

I still think his overall value to the team is higher with Geno/Sid, but totally agree that one of the most welcome aspects of BB's game is his defensive awareness. His versatility is an excellent attribute and should keep him in the league (hopefully with the Pens).

Not directly related to the line-up tonight, but I heard Josh Yohe on Madden's show on the drive home talk player selection for the final roster. He gets the sense that the organization still really like Niskanen and isn't pleased with Despres's camp so far, so he expects them to solve their cap problems by sending Despres to WBS (I don't know if that does get them under the cap, but he implied it did).

He also thought D'Agostini was pretty much a lock to make the team, meaning no Kobasew. I know D'Agostini has the contract and Kobasew doesn't, but it seems weird that this would be written in stone before D'Agostini has even played a preseason game. I wouldn't give Kobasew a contract on the basis of one good game, but it doesn't seem like they'd be so attached to D'Agostini that they'd keep him over Kobasew even if Kobasew keeps putting up points and D'Agostini does nothing.

IMO, Kobasew is getting a look there to see if he could also serve as insurance against an injury to their top 6, ala Jokinen. If he can, that's another plus for him over the others fighting for a bottom 6 spot. I think it is unlikely at this point, but maybe that's the thing that gets him a contract and makes Glass expendable.

It seems that way. I was happy at first to hear that Yohe was the hockey interviewee today instead of Rossi, since I thought Yohe was more level-headed and nuanced in his analysis. However, it was more of the same absolute certainty about debatable topics--e.g. "I know exactly what the final 23 man roster will be and Despres won't be on it."

I could throw an emergency one up but for preseason, might as well just continue in this thread since it was based on lineup for tonight.

On that note:

-Pens really slow to start-Terrible turnover by Vitale that lead to Sharp (still my non favorite Pen) goal-Bennett looking awesome again-Kobasew looks to be serviceable-D'Ag botched a great pass from Beau-Crosby out killing on the PK (came out on in play ice change not for a faceoff)-Pouliot will be a nice PP QB I think